Then the ball started to swing and the home side lost their last eight wickets for the addition of just 86.

After bowling the home side out for 285 in the 85th over, Somerset then reached 40-0 from nine overs at stumps.

All this was far removed from the first session dominated by Hampshire after their captain Dominic Cork had won the toss in bright sunshine.

Adams and Dawson put on 136 for the first wicket.

But, after Adams was caught behind off Hussain, the first of five catches for Craig Kieswetter, who then dived in front of first slip to pouch Johann Myburgh, the rest became a bit of a procession as batting suddenly became a difficult proposition in the breeze.

The back of the Hampshire innings was broken by left-armer Willoughby (4-40) who went through the middle order to produce an outstanding spell of 4-3 in only 18 balls.

All the while Dawson, in an emergency batting position as opener due to Hampshire's injury problems, remained steadfast until, at 231, he attempted to pull Steve Kirby and got a thin edge to Kieswetter.

In the context of the day's play, Dawson's 91, off 207 balls, was an invaluable contribution. And it was bolstered only by some late resistance from captain Cork, who struck Hussain for five successive fours in his 44.

But Hussain (4-83) had his revenge in his next over when the former England all-rounder lofted a catch to the cover boundary.

And the Somerset openers soon improved on the work of the bowlers, Marcus Trescothick and Arul Suppiah rattling up six boundaries between them as the visitors ended the first day 245 behind.

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